FIFTH EU-CENTRAL ASIA MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE ON RULE OF LAW RESCHEDULED ON 7 DECEMBER 2017

In the framework of the EU-Central Asia Rule of Law Initiative, the Fifth Conference of the Ministries of Justice of the European Union and Central Asia will take place on 7 December 2017, in Brussels, coordinated with a meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council.

The Conference will further enhance mutual dialogue and continue to promote the exchange of experience between the EU and its Central Asian partners. It will also follow up on the implementation of the 4th Joint Ministerial Declaration adopted by the EU and Central Asia Ministers of Justice in Astana in October 2012 and will aim at endorsing the future directions of the Rule of Law Initiative.

The Fifth Ministerial Conference, will be chaired by Estonia, which holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union as of 1 July 2017. Participants will include delegations of high-level personalities from the justice system of the five Central Asian States, headed by the Ministers of Justice of these countries, as well Ministers of Justice and high-level legal and judicial experts from EU Members States. France and Germany have taken the joint lead in coordinating the Initiative. Finland and Latvia are associated as European partners.

On 27 March 2017, a meeting organized by the Platform associated the European Commission, the European External Action Service, the European coordinating and partner countries, and the five Central Asian States to identify areas of priorities for the Conference and further directions of the Initiative.